Building a Spiritual Foundation

Tasnim Nazeer shares ways in which parents can instill a love of Islam in their children.

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Building spirituality and instilling the love of Islam effectively within our children is something that all Muslim parents would love to achieve. As a mother of three children under 5, I often contemplate what would be the best ways to teach my children about Islam and introduce them to the beauty of the religion with the hope that they would become good, productive Muslims in the future.

Have you ever stopped to think that our children are watching our every move and tend to copy things that we do without us even realising it? There have been countless times when I have seen my children with their toy phones in their hands and, along with the baby language, I have caught them trying to say ‘salaam alaikum’. They may not be able to say it properly, but the fact that they may have heard me or my husband saying it and picked that up is incredible. Therefore we have to be aware of our actions and try our best to teach our kids about Islam in a way that promotes love for Almighty Allah (SWT) and our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

If we work productively to please Allah (SWT) we will automatically find that our children will mimic our actions, especially if you begin to teach your child Islamic values from an early age.

This will not only benefit your family life but will also help to provide the grounds for success in building strong iman.

Tips for instilling the love of Islam in your kids:

Salah
Let your children watch you pray, pray alongside you, and, when they are old enough, teach them how to pray. Salah is the most important part of Islam as it builds a direct connection with our one and only creator, Allah (SWT). The importance of introducing your children to salah cannot be understated as salah is the main core difference between a believer and a non-believer. Therefore, the next time you make wudhu, let your child observe you, talk to them about what you are doing and encourage them to join you when you pray.

Have you ever heard the phrase ‘A family that prays together stays together’? Well, much could be said about the benefits of praying together as a family; this can help promote spirituality and bonding, as it is a time to turn to Allah (SWT) as a family.

Reading and Reciting Qur’an
Uthmaan (RA) said that the Prophet (SAW) said:The best of you are the ones who learn the Qur’an and teach it to others” [Al-Bukhari]
Enrolling your children in Qur’anic classes and Islamic studies can help them to acquire the knowledge they need and perhaps give them the chance to teach it to others when they get older. From an early age, my parents sent me to the mosque to attend Qur’an classes and this has helped me today as a mother when I have to teach my children the Qur’an. It is a beneficial gift to give your kids that will help them in the future.

The more you read and recite Qur’an yourself, the more your children will get used to it and will also find the motivation to read it themselves.

Giving your children praise when they have learnt a surah themselves, or have even memorised just one line, can really help to motivate them to learn more.

Love for the Beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
Our Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is a prime example to all mankind and an excellent role model for each and every one of us, including our kids.

Telling your children stories about our Prophet (SAW) and his companions can help to build the love for him and the messages of Islam which he brought to the world. Letting your children learn about the many hadiths of the Prophet (SAW) and the way he lived his life can also encourage our children to be the best Muslims they can be.

Teaching your children about the importance of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and the origins of Islam can further instill love for the religion and a foundation for strong iman.

I hope insha Allah that these tips will be beneficial to all mothers and parents who want to find ways to build iman within their children. May Allah (SWT) make it easy for all parents and make our children rightly guided to work towards our permanent abode of Al Akhirah.

Tasnim Nazeer is a Freelance Journalist/Reporter for BMG’s Global Islamic Finance Magazine. She has written for a variety of print and online publications including CNN, The Huffington Post, The Muslim News, Aaila Muslim Family Magazine, Productive Muslim.com and many more. She currently has her own column on Aaila Muslim Family Magazine. As a mother of three babies she likes to write on topics of inspiration and nurturing Islamic values. Visit her website at www.tasnimnazeer.com

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